Over 80 stores to benefit from high-tech upgrades across United Wholesale Scotland
UNITED Wholesale Scotland (UWS) has unveiled its next step for its Day-Today symbol as the wholesaler embraces the digital side of convenience retail.
The firm has showcased this transformation through Day-Today Anniesland, a recently refitted store complete with the future in mind.
After nearly 20 years as a mainstay for the local community, the newly revamped Day-Today Anniesland has introduced some cutting edge technology that builds further on the symbol group’s offer by strengthening what has come before but also introducing some options that are completely new for the convenience channel.
This includes a new Beer Cave concept for the Day-Today estate and a brand new interactive touch-screen pad that can be used to highlight store promotions or to promote the symbol’s ‘Spin to Win’ mechanic.
Mike Leonard, symbol director at UWS, said: “We’re going to use this to bring our in-depot Spin to Win mechanic into our stores. This means shoppers will be able to win a free product as part of a weekly giveaway, and that will either be supplier funded or funded by UWS.
“And we want to build on the concept further with additional deals as well so, for example, we will look at offering extra prizes like holiday vouchers to really excite our customers.”
Consumers will need to scan a QR code on the screen every week to take part in this Spin to Win mechanic as well, to ensure everyone gets a fair chance.
This high-tech concept won’t just be exclusive for Day-Today Anniesland as well, as Leonard noted the store would act like a flagship for UWS moving forward with plans underway to roll out further across the estate in the coming months with plans to have 88 digital store launches by November.
Beyond the improvements to customer experience, store owner Adeel Iqbal also noted the improvements that have been made to staff safety as well.
He said: “We’ve introduced a state-of-the-art CCTV system to the store that includes AI software with facial recognition
“Anyone who comes into our store will be picked up on the camera and it will record their faces so, if someone steals in the store, the CCTV picks up on them and alerts us about it.
“It also saves this information so that if the customer were to ever come back into the store, the system would alert staff members and it means my team can approach the customer and calmly ask them to leave.”
Additionally, the store has also introduced a new Food To Go section in store, with an offering from Country Choice to entice local workers to the store and away from competitive, international fast food chains.
The transformation has also made its impact with the local community as well, as consumers have embraced the new store with open arms.
Adeel said: “The very first thing that I see when everybody walks into the store is this amazing smile they all have on their faces.
“They’ve seen this shop for the last 19 years now and, even though we have had smaller refurbishments during this time, this more major transformation has very much been accepted by my local customers and they’re all very satisfied with what they can now find in the store.”
